MrBeast’s Philanthropy: Inside the YouTube Star’s Charity Work

MrBeast is thought for his over-the-top viral movies and over-the-top charitable acts.

The YouTube star, whose actual title is Jimmy Donaldson, has given away tens of millions of {dollars} in his movies to causes such because the Arbor Day Basis and The Ocean Cleanup.

The 26-year-old began on YouTube by posting movies underneath the username MrBeast6000 from Donaldson’s hometown of Greenville, North Carolina, the place he nonetheless lives.

In 2017, he went viral with a video wherein he counted from zero to 100,000, starting a journey that led him to grow to be YouTube’s prime creator.

He has over 395 million subscribers on YouTube. Whereas MrBeast’s internet price is unknown, he stated in February 2025 that he is a billionaire on paper.

His charitable stunts and giveaways have helped him go viral. In 2021, he challenged contributors to stay in a circle and gave the final particular person to go away $500,000. The video gained over 500 million views.

MrBeast additionally runs a charity group known as Beast Philanthropy, which works on campaigns to donate cash and assets. It additionally runs a meals financial institution, known as The Beast Pantry, in North Carolina. The Beast Philanthropy YouTube channel has over 27 million subscribers.

Donaldson started incorporating philanthropy into his content material again in 2017, after inking his first model sponsorship deal on YouTube.

He was paid $10,000 for the model deal, and within the video, he gave the cash away as tricks to pizza supply drivers.

The giveaway modified the trajectory of Donaldson’s content material technique. From then on, he created content material about giving cash away to folks in his neighborhood, Twitch streamers, and even meals supply drivers.

At first, Donaldson’s giveaways helped him go viral on-line, which in flip allowed him to donate extra money to varied folks and charities. However over time, his charity efforts grew to become controversial.

MrBeast’s philanthropic efforts: from giveaways to charity stunts

MrBeast has given away gobs of money to a variety of causes, together with planting timber, cleansing the ocean, and even paying for somebody’s cataract surgical procedure.

In 2019, Donaldson hit nationwide information for his on-line marketing campaign to lift cash to plant 20 million timber. He partnered with the Arbor Day Basis on the motion known as #TeamTrees, which even attracted funding from Elon Musk.

MrBeast sometimes funds these charity stunts via his companies, sponsorship offers, and promoting earnings from his YouTube channel.

He is constructed a group to run his philanthropic efforts. It contains Darren Margolias, who labored in actual property improvement, and has grow to be the face of Beast Philanthropy.

Donaldson’s charity efforts have additionally had a cultural influence, making charity each “cool” and entertaining.

Backlash to MrBeast’s philanthropy

MrBeast’s charity stunts have additionally drawn critics who say his philanthropic efforts are self-serving.

As an example, in 2023, he acquired backlash on Twitter for his video wherein he gifted eye surgical procedures.

Donaldson responded on the social platform, now known as X, mentioning the irony: “Twitter – Rich people should help others with their money. Me – Okay, I’ll use my money to help people and I promise to give away all my money before I die. Every single penny. Twitter – MrBeast bad.”

This was removed from the one time Donaldson has been accused of being performative in his charitable acts. Some on the web have even known as his movies staged.

His grand gestures have been accused of failing to contribute to fixing systemic points like poverty and as an alternative being carried out for leisure. For instance, after his 2024 video titled “I Built 100 Houses And Gave Them Away,” some followers on-line criticized the YouTuber for utilizing the topics of the video to get views.

He additionally sparked controversy in 2023 when Donaldson gifted a automotive to a waitress in a TikTok video. Some followers stated on-line that they have been dissatisfied that the automotive displayed his YouTube emblem and the title of his chocolate model, Feastables, accusing him of utilizing the giveaway for promotion.

In instances of backlash, MrBeast has sometimes shrugged off any criticism and doubled down that he is not giving up on giving again.

Representatives for Jimmy Donaldson didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon this story.